as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preliminary
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
He was arraigned on May 7 and is set to have a preliminary hearing on June 18, court records show.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
And just by being around his Team Canada teammates, Crosby is doing what Iginla and others did for him back in 2010, when Canada lost to the U.S. in the preliminaries and beat it in the gold medal game.
—Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Adjective
Here are their health risks May 4, 2025 The county health department previously shared preliminary results from soil testing of still-standing homes in and around the Eaton and Palisades burn scars.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
He was arraigned on May 7 and is set to have a preliminary hearing on June 18, court records show.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Noun
During the preliminaries on Feb. 28, the Red Devils broke the national record in the 200 medley relay, as Bey teamed with sophomore Luke Vatev, senior Henry Guo and junior Matthew Vatev to time 1 minute, 26.75 seconds.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
And just by being around his Team Canada teammates, Crosby is doing what Iginla and others did for him back in 2010, when Canada lost to the U.S. in the preliminaries and beat it in the gold medal game.
—Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminary
Adjective
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In accordance with the Lviv Statement adopted on the day, the group welcomed the finalization of the preparatory work required to establish a Special Tribunal within the Council of Europe.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Cheshire Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day high school that was founded in 1794.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Earlier this month, the administration began targeting the nonprofit status of Harvard University, which could be a prelude to a broader effort to eliminate the tax-exempt status for other nonprofit organizations that the administration has clashed with.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Hegseth may not know that the U.S. suffered twice as many casualties as the Spanish in that long-ago battle, the prelude to a needless and costly war of aggression.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The introductory outdoor clocks typically start around $20, with better and bigger models reaching up to around $60.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
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Of particular note here is an introductory land like a Main Street, U.S.A., leading to a central hub.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preliminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminary. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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